and being so transubstantiated to offer it vp vnto God a sacrifice propitiatorie both for quick and dead Thus the wounded head of Priesthood was cured and revived and so became the worlds wonder as now it followeth to bee declared according as Iohn here witnesseth And all the world wondred after the Beast That is The people of the Nations hauing this Priesthood set over them and commended unto them to bee of such power and dignitie as that they could make them a visible God not onely to behold with their eyes and looke vpon but also to eate and that their maker and redeemer to their everlasting salvation And being so effectually deluded as that they beleeued these lyes hereupon they wondred and followed the Beast Well might they wonder to see bread and taste bread where was no bread and to see wine and taste wine where was no wine for so were they made to beleeue and to eate flesh and drinke bloud and yet neither to see nor taste flesh nor bloud this was a wonder to wonder at and who would not follow him for a guide that had power to worke such wonders But they did not onely follow the Beast as the Iewes did Christ when they saw his miracles But they worshipped the Dragon which gaue Ver. 4. power vnto the Beast and they worshipped the Beast saying who is like vnto the Beast Who is able to make warre with him To worship is to heare and obey and by worshipping the Dragon was shewed that they wholly addicted themselues to be directed and ruled by the Beast whom the Dragon used as his instrument to worke his will and to whom he had giuen authority and power to that end thus orginally they worshiped the divell Secondly they worshiped the Beast as being the instrument of the divell and they became subiects in all things obedient unto the Beast as being of such holinesse and truth as that it could not erre nor deceiue others and of such power as what they loosed on earth was loosed in heaven and what they bound in earth was bound in heaven therfore such a power as had no match or peere so that they boasted and said of it Who is like unto the Beast As David considering the power Psal 71. 77. and wonderfull works of God saith Who is like unto the Lord So doe the Nations boast of this Beast saying Who is like unto the Beast And further they sayd of him Who is able to make warre with him As if they should say This our holy Mother hath power to excommunicate and deliver to Satan all of what estate condition and degree soever they be that will not heare her voyce beare her yoke and be ruled by her Who therefore is able to make warre with her that is make his party good against this our holy Mother Of such admiration was this Beast in the earth thus hath the world thought and spoken of her And moreover there was given unto this Beast a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies and power was given him to make 42. moneths Ver. 5. As the mouth is the meanes and instrument whereby men do declare their mindes so this Beast had a mouth to declare and utter her minde by which mouth was signified a Ministerie of false Prophets and lying Spirits namely Doctors Schoole-men Monkes Frvars and all sorts of their Preachers who teach for doctrines the commandements of the Beast and declare and utter the minde and will of the Beast as being equall to Gods Word this their Canons Lawes Books and Monuments do manifestly witnesse The effect of that which this mouth uttereth is noted to be great things and blasphemies They boast of this Beast that she is the holy Catholick Church Militant the Mother of all true beleevers the chaste Spouse of Christ the Pillar and ground of Truth that it cannot erre c. And that all which will haue God to be their Father must haue her to be their Mother Finally that out of her lap and communion there is no saluation These and many other such great things speaketh the mouth of this Beast which are indeed great things and being so spoken are great blasphemies For is it not great blasphemy to call that Holy which is most abominable To call her the Mother of all true Beleevers which is the Mother of fornications and of all abominations To call that the Pillar and ground of Truth which hath corrupted the earth with her errours and fornications and caused all Nations to drinke of the wine of the wrath thereof To say there is no saluation but in her followship whose end and iudgement is to go to destruction Beware of false Prophets and teachers of lyes for such are the mouth of this Beast And it is further to be minded that it is said of this Beast that the mouth which she had was given her for had this Beast no more to maintaine this mouth then she hath of her own by discent and heritage she could not haue so many to speake for her as she hath But Emperors and Kings Princes Nobles and other great sinners became benefactors to this Beast giving unto her Lands and Tenements rents revenewes to maintaine this mouth to utter great things and blasphemies and more then this Power was given him to act or make two and fortie moneths For the better understanding of this point let this be considered In the Antichristian Kingdome they haue a rule how to proceed in every cause but not given them of God but of their own making which they commonly call the Canon Law concerning vvhich Law here we may learne by vvhom it vvas made how long it was in making These makers usurp the name of the Church of Christ but the true Church is the Kingdom of Christ and being the Kingdom of Christ it hath him onely for lawgiver they therefore which under the title of the Church presume to make lawes are fitly worthily resembled by a Beast For what is more unreasonable then for those whose greatest dignity glory happines consisteth in hearing obeying administring of Gods Word to fall from this and Lucifer-like to exalt oppose themselues against their Maker as though they were vviser iuster then God to adde unto his Testament vvhich is sufficient to instruct us in all vvisedome to make the man of God perfect in every good work and to take from the same 2. Tim. 3. 17. Testament at their pleasure vvhich is not lawfull to do to any mans testament vvithout great offence and injustice as the Apostle sheweth Gal. 3. 15. yet this is the way wherein those great doers the authors of the Canon Law haue vvalked It is said of those Actors that Power was given them c. Where first vve may obserue that of themselues they had not this power for then it could not haue been said to be given them but given them it was it is therefore to be
a two-fold power and jurisdiction both Civill and Ecclesiasticall not in earth onely but in heaven also what he bindeth in earth is bound in heaven and whom he will he can release from the paines of Purgatorie and place them in heaven Therefore in token of this his power he is armed with two swords which thing was plainely signified by the two Hornes which he had like the Lamb. But though the Beast would be the Lambs equall and resemble him in power yet his voyce bewrayes him to bee but a counterfeit and a dissembling hypocrite he speakes like the Dragon he pretendeth property to that which is not his own and exalteth himselfe against those unto whom he should submit and giue honour Even as the Dragon said of the Kingdomes of the world All these are in my power I giue them to whom I will So likewise saith this Luk. 4. 6. Beast his Vicar the Prelate of Rome The Empire and Kingdomes of the earth are in my power and at my disposition and to me it belongeth to depose and set up Emperours and Kings at my pleasure as shall bee behoofull for the peace of the Church And thus may the Beast in this bee knowne by his voyce likewise in divers other particular blasphemous speeches and divelish doctrines Further it is said of this Beast That he exerciseth all the power of the first Beast before him and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to Vers 12. worship the first Beast whose deadly wound was healed In that this Beast is said to exercise All the power of the first Beast before him thereby was signified That what the first Beast could doe by her motherly authority and power under the usurped title and name of the holy Church the same could this Beast doe by the authority power of his fatherhood under the title pretence of Christs Vicar Peters successor universall Bishop c. But that this Beast may yet further be discerned it is said of him That he caused the earth and those which dwell therein to worship the first Beast c. By causing the earth to worship the first Beast was foreshewed that the Pope would exact of the earth the tenth part of the fruits therof for the maintenance of the holy Church this is indeed to worship For as the paying of Tithes in the time of the Law was a part of the true outward worship of God so this is the worship of the Beast And further by causing the Inhabitants of the earth also to worship the first Beast was shewed that he would carefully see due homage service and obedience to be yeelded and performed to the holy Church so that though the Prelate of Rome as a sonne of perdition did exalt himselfe aboue measure yet still doth he maintaine the power and dignity of the Catholick Church the estimation of her Motherhood must still bee maintained her voyce must still be heard and obeyed not to come when she calls is contumacie and contempt not to be indured they that dare so farre to despise her authoritie as not to obey her Paritors Processe are by her doome to bee accounted cursed children and worthy of no lesse censure and punishment then to be struck with that terrible Thunderbolt of her Excommunication the violence whereof is such as who can indure it Who will not rather ride runne dance attendance crouch kneele pay pray or doe any thing else which Maister Officiall or his Register wil enioyne them then undergoe so heavy a burthen as the censure of Excommunication Thus will the Pope haue the magnificence of this Diana to bee maintained The earth and those which dwell in it must yeeld unto her the Tithe of all their increase as also Mortuaryes Offerings and many other Church duties which she requireth of them for she is a goddesse and must bee worshipped And this diminisheth the Popes glorie never a jot the two estates of the Whoore and false Prophet can well agree and stand together as father and mother in one family and therefore the second Beast as father of all wil haue the first Beast worshiped that is obeyed maintained in glorie as mother of all And further obserue in that the Pope hath executed all authoritie of the Catholike Church thereby is confirmed the truth of the exposition that the first Beast was the Catholike Church and the second Beast the Pope as hath beene before observed And he doth great wonders so that he maketh fire to come downe from Vers 13. heaven on earth in the sight of men First by the wonders which he did was foreshewed what wonderfull things the Prelate of Rome that false Prophet should bring to passe as namely under the title of the servant of the servants of God which indeed all Ministers of the Word and other Church Officers ought to be to creep up and exalt himselfe aboue Emperours and Kings and all other estates in the earth which being considered is indeed a thing wonderfull for first the Prelacie and Clergie in respect of the pretended holines of their Orders were exempted and freed from being subiect to any secular jurisdicton and power the meanest of them might not be produced before any secular ludge for any crime or offence how Vide Consilium Matis Can. 9. 10. havnous soever yet unto this Beast they must be obedient in all things as servants to their Lord upon him they must depend with all observation as children upon their fathers And as for Emperours and Kings and other worldly States it is plaine to bee seene that though they stand highly upon their titles and dignities not to haue them empayred or in any thing diminished which is a thing which they will withstand to the shedding of aboundance of bloud yet to be made such vassals to this Beast as to hold his stirrop to leade his horse by the bridle to kisse his feete they thought it no abasement but an honour And notwithstanding that very many of that beastly ranke haue been notorious wicked men and abominable livers yet haue they the craft so to delude and besot all people of all degrees in the world as to bring them to beleeue that the truth is so infallibly annexed to that seate of the Beast that it is not possible for him to erre in iudgement yea he made the world to beleeue it as an Article of faith that his determination and iudgement of any controversie or point of doctrine is a more indifficient and infallible rule of faith then is the holy Scriptures That these and the like grosse doctrines are beleeved and received are great wonders Further He maketh fire to come downe from heaven on the earth in the sight of men c. By fire in this place was fore-shewed the punishment which should be inflicted on the Saints which was burning with fire And in that the fire was sayd to come from heaven thereby was foreshewed that the Iudges of the earth Who
the Beast is hath been before shewed Secondly the name of the Beast is to be considered For the manifestation whereof let us consider and minde that those which did preach and professe Christ and his doctrine are said to haue and to beare his name The Lord Christ Iesus said unto Ananias in a Vision concerning Paul That hee was a chosen Vessell to Acts 9. 15. beare his Name before the Gentiles and Kings and the children of Israel By the name of the Lord here was meant that Paul should preach the doctrine of Christ and those that beleeved by his Preaching were said to beleeue in the name of Christ and were therefore baptized into his name and called Christians †Acts 11. 26. The Disciples were first called Christians in Antioch Also the disciples and followers of Christ are said to haue the Lambs Fathers name written in their forehead According to this is the meaning of the name of this Beast which the Holy Ghost setteth down in a mysterie in the 17. chapter and 5. verse Babylon the great the mother of Harlots and abominations of the earth But the Papists call it not Babylon the great but the great universall or Catholick Church not the mother of Harlots but the mother of all true Beleevers not the mother of all abominations of the earth but the Pillar and ground of Truth that cannot erre This is the difference betwixt the name which God giveth them and which they take and attribute unto themselues But let them speak the best of themselues and let us consider and answer them in their own language they call themselues the Catholick Church and their professed vassals and subiects are therfore called Catholicks and whatsoever they bee that do either preach or professe the Catholick faith that is beleeue as this Catholick Church beleeveth that it is mother of all true Beleevers that it cannot erre c. they are Catholicks such persons wheresoever they liue if they thus beleeue although they never receiued the marke of the Beast nor can receiue it yet this profession is enough to entitle them in the right of buying or selling these foresaid wares such persons haue the name of the Beast and therefore they may buy pardons of the forgiuenesse of part or all their sinnes and use any of these things which they suppose necessary for their soules health but indeed destruction yea after their death they may for a summe of mony given to the foresaid Marchants by their charitable successors be released out of Purgatorie thus by their owne description wee haue found out the name of the Beast and who they are that haue received it The third condition is the number of his name as the Beast had one generall name which the Catholick Church whereby he was known from all other States and Kingdomes in the world so it hath a number of names belonging to the particular parts and members thereof to distinguish one from another as in the 17. Chap. and third verse The Beast was full of names of blasphemy As the true Church which is that body whereof Christ Iesus onely is the Head is compleate and furnished when it is coupled and knit together by every ioynt and member which Christ Iesus hath given for the furniture thereof namely Apostles Prophets 1. Cor. 12. Ephe. 4. 11. Evangelists Pastors and Teachers So this false Church being furnished with those parts and members which that great red Dragon hath invented and set up under the title of Ministers of Christ to worke upon the children of disobedience namely the Pope Patriarches Cardinalls Arch-bishops Bishops Deanes Arch-deacons Abbots Priors Prebends Canons Chancellors Commissaries Registers Doctors with the rest of the selected Synode or Councell so I say this Church or Beast being furnished with these his parts and members is an intire body and these members are the full number of his name that is they are the number of whom the Catholick Church consisteth and from them all inferiour power and offices of Ministerie as Monkes Fryars Parsons Vicars Curats and Iesuits are derived This I understand to be the number of his name and this exposition agreeth with that in the verse following where it is said let him that hath understanding count the Number of the Beast By the number of the Beast what can bee understood but the Number of the particular parts whereof he consisteth And where it is said For it is the number of a man What can bee understood but that it beareth the resemblance and likenesse of a man as followeth to be declared Thus wee see who may buy and sell in this Kingdom and who may not Here is wisedome let him that hath understanding count the number of the Vers 18. Beast for it is the number of a man and his number is 666. Here is shewed first what is required in searching out this mysterie and that is wisedom and understanding not such as is from beneath but from aboue which commeth down from the Father of lights from whom commeth every good and perfect gift hee it is that giveth wisedome to the simple and the understanding of his secrets to those that feare him which should teach those that desire to know the Mysteries of his will to labour to be such as to whom he hath promised to reveale them then whatsoever we aske we shall receiue of him for to such hee giveth liberally and upbraideth not Secondly here is shewed a direction how to imploy a mans wisedom in finding out this Mysterie and that is by counting or reckoning the number of this Beast Thirdly a reason why the number of the Beast is to be counted Because it is the number of a man that is it agreeth with and is answerable to the parts of a man and so is the more easily to be found for as wee know the true Church of Christ is compared in the Scriptures to the naturall body of a man as in 1. Cor. 12. 12. For as the body is one and hath many members and all the members of that one body being many are one body so also is Christ Jesus And in the 27. verse the Apostle speaking of the church of Corinth hee saith Yee are the body of Christ and members in particular c. So in the Ephes 1. 22. 23. Christ is given to be head ouer all things to the Church which is his Body Thus as the true Church is called and compared to a body so the catholicks affirme that they onely are that church and that body and that the particular parts and members of their church are the full number thereof Now whereas they say they are the church let us say they are the Beast and whereas they say their particular parts and members make up the number of the Church let us say their particular parts and members make up the number of the Beast and so we finde the true interpretation of this Scripture Further here is set downe the number
AN EXPOSITION OF THE 13. CHAPTER OF THE REVELATION OF IESVS CHRIST By Iohn Wilkinson Revelation 14. 9. ANd the 3. Angel followed them saying with a lowd voice If any man worship the beast and his image and receive his marke in his forehead or in his hand V. 10. The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God which is powred out without mixture into the cup of his indignation and he shal be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy Angels and in the presence of the Lamb V. 11. And the smoake of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever Imprinted in the yere 1619. IT was the purpose and desire of the Authour of this Treatise to haue published his Iudgment of the whole booke of the Revelation But through the malice of the Prelates who divers times spoyled him of his goods and kept him many yeres in prison he was prevented of his purpose After his death some of his labours comming to the hands of his friends in scattred and unperfect papers they laboured with the help of others that heard him declare his judgement herein to set forth this little treatise wherin they have not varied from the Authours Iudgement but onely in one opint in the 3. verse which is concerning the wounded head wherein for the clearing of the matter they have added the lines thus marked Which a litle differeth from the Authours understanding of it the which should not haue been altered if the worke had been left perfect AN INTERPRETATION OF THE 13. CHAPTER OF THE REVELATION OF IESVS CHRIST THE Eternall whose power is over all from the beginning hath put enmitie between the Serpent the Gen. 3. 15. Woman and between the seede of the Woman and the seed of the Serpent whereupon it hath come to passe in all ages that the seed of the woman hath laboured to break the serpents head that is to destroy his workes tread him under foot and triumph in victory over him He on the contrarie hath laboured as earnestly to resist God to deceive the Nations and to bring all into condemnation and destruction with himself And amongst the manifold wayes meanes which Satan hath devised and practised to manifest his malice against God and his Saincts none hath been more dangerous nor more availeable to further iniquitie and cause destruction then the Antichristian generation which under the title of the Church and Spowse of Christ and Ministers of the Gospell have corrupted the earth and brought the Nations into miserable bondage and slaverie In this 13. chapter is declared the state policy and proceeding of the Antichristian Dominion and Kingdome as the same was signified and foreshewed to Iohn the servant of Iesus Christ in a threefold forme First by a beast rising up out of the sea having 7. heads 10. hornes verses 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. Secondly by a beast coming up out of the earth having two hornes like the lambe but spake like the dragon verses 11. 12. 13. 14. Thirdly by an image of the first beast which the second beast caused them that dwelt on the earth to make as in vers 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. As the Dominion of the Medes Persians and Grecians which persecuted Dan. 8. and destroyed the holy people of God the Iewes were signified and foreshewed to Daniel in a vision vnder the formes of severall beasts according to the qualities of those dominions so here the Antichristian dominion which persecuted the Churches and people of Christ was foreshewed to Iohn under the formes of such beasts as are here described whereby we may learne that as reason and judgment is not to be expected in a beast so equitie and right is not to be expected in this dominion but the contrarie Concerning the first of these beasts Iohn sayth That as I stood upon the sea sand I saw a Beast rise up out of the sea having 7. heads and 10. hornes and upon his hornes 10. Crownes and upon his heads the names of Blasphemy And the Beast which I saw was like unto a Leopard and his feet as the feet of a Beare and his mouth as the mouth of a Lyon and the Dragon gave him his power and his seate and great authoritie That by this first Beast was signified and represented some state of people and body politique I presume no reasonable man exercised in the Scriptures will deny because as it hath been sayd it is there to be seene that such States and Dominions as God hath used as rodds and scourges to chastise correct his Church and people withall have been represented by beasts States and Dominions they are of two sorts eyther Ecclesiastical or Civil but of which sort the State here ment is there hath been and is great opposition Many understand it to be the Romane Empire to which I cannot consent because the Romane Empire is ordeyned of God and is therefore a lawfull Dominion But the Dominion here represented is sayd to be from the Dragon that old Serpent the Divell who is sayd to give his power and his throne and great authoritie unto it and therefore unlawfull neither can I conceive it to be any other civil dominion for the same reason But to be short I understand it to be an Ecclesiasticall Sate or Dominion and in particular that dominion which is called The Catholike Church representative consisting of the Prelacy and Preisthood of many Nations as Patriarches Cardinalls Archbishops Bishops with divers other elected persons who being called and gathered into counsells or synodes usually called generall Counsells did usurpe and take on them the office of Christ Iesus in making Lawes and Canons erecting Courts instituting offices and officers in matters of Religion as for the goverment of the Church and for the worship of God to be of all men observed obeyed These generall counsells or as the Catholicks call it the catholike Church representative have challenged and exercised spirituall authoritie and dominion according to the text over all kinreds toungs and Nations By their lawes canons they have guided and governed them as one vniversall or Catholick Church and made them also to observe their decrees and commaundements for doctrine This they have doen both before and also since the Pope was exalted to his dignitie as all histories of the Church doe testify So that it hath been and is a great question among the Catholicks whether the authoritie of the Pope or the Catholick Church in cases of Religion be the greater And whereas it is sayd in the 12. vers that the second Beast exercised all the power of the first Beast before him therby is confirmed the trueth of this exposition For the second Beast being the Pope as hereafter is shewed hath exercised the whole power of the Catholick church or generall counsells and not of any other State or Dominion Further that this is the first beast here presented that which followeth
thorough Gods helpe shall make manifest and apparant But before I doe proceed I desire the Reader to observe that I doe not condemne all use of Counsells or Synods but doe hold that diverse men of divers churches may lawfully be assembled together to consult and advise of matters concerning Religion and the worship of God for their instruction and better information of their Iudgments and so a good holy use may be thereof But that any counsells have such power over the churches of Christ as to impose upon them thrir commaundements for doctrine and to vsurp the goverment of the Churches and to rule and reigne over them by their lawes and canons and prescribe rules and formes how God wil be worshipped as these generall counsells have done that I doe deny as being contrary to the perfection of the holy * 2 Tim. 3. 17. Deut. 4. 2. Revel 22. 18. Scriptures and the practise of the Apostles and Elders of the Church of Ierusalem who being assembled togither did professe it to be †Act. 15. 10. a tempting of God to lay such a yoke on the disciples necks as the observing of the Iewish ceremonies which being unlawfull to doe it is much more unlawfull to devise and impose any other and therfore the said assembly of the Apostles and Elders concluded to lay no greater burden vpon the disciples then to absteyne from such necessary things as either were simply evill in themselves as fornication or els evill in respect of Act. 15. 18. 19. c. offence as meats offred to Idols blood and things strangled Now to proceed First it is sayd of this Beast That he did rise up out of the sea By his rising up was foreshewed that the Antichristian policie should arise from a poore and meane estate to great riches and honour in the world which we and former generations have seene to the vttermost fulfilled For dayes there were when the Churches of Christ both Ministers and people were hated despised and persecuted in the world syoyled of their goods made gazingstocks and wonders and afflicted with all kinde of crueltie as histories both sacred and humane doe abundantly specifie and declare The Apostle Paul saith of himself his fellow brethren the Ministers of the Gospel that they were as men appointed to death and in the account of the world as the filth refuse ofscouring of all things But since this beastly generation hath succeeded the church and under the titles of Ministers of the Gospell and the Bishops over Gods people have found meanes by little and little to rise up and to exalt themselves over the Nations and to bring the multitudes and peoples and Nations and Tounges under their Iurisdiction rule and Reu 18. 3. 2. Thes 2. 7. Dominion and they have so risen up that they are become the great men of the earth and are waxed rich through the abundance of their delicacies This mistery of iniquitie was working in the Apostles tyme for there were then crept into the church those that desired worldly pompe and promotion and were not contented with the portion of the Lordes heritage but their ambicious desires could not then be satisfied there was a lett in the way that hindered it which lett being removed their purposes soone after tooke effect fitly therefore is this generation said to rise up in respect of those whose successors they boast themselues to be The former hold no certaine dwelling places but were exposed to hunger thirst cold nakednesse buffetings c. But these latter have their Lordly Houses warrelike Castles Prince like Pallaces they have their rents revenues and abundance of riches in great excesse they are pompously arayed in stately robes and rich apparell they rule like lords over the people have power to afflict all that will not beare the yoke of their Dominion thus is this generation risen up and exalted as all may see that list to minde it The place from whence this Beast is sayd to rise up is the sea The Naturall Sea we know is the gathering togither of many waters Gen. 1. 9. 10. A like thing must that be out of which this Beast was to rise But in the 17. chapter Multitudes and nations peoples and Toungs are resembled by waters therfore the gathering together of such into one body politike may rightly be resembled by the Sea Thus then the trueth standeth By the rising up of this beast out of the Sea was foreshewed That those many waters that is the people and multitudes and Nations and Toungs not onely under the Romane Empire but most nations and people of the world being gathered into one sea or ecclesiasticall State should breed and bring forth this Monster For they being of two contrary sorts the seed of the Serpent the seed of the Woman children of the kingdome and children of the wicked vnto the one sort the word of God in the administration therof is the savour of life unto life unto the other sort it is the savour of death unto death The one sort feare God and wil obey him rather then man The other feare and reverence the arme of flesh more then they doe the living God These as light and darknesse being contrary one to another the one being of Christ the other of Belial how therfore should they in things concerning God and Christ Faith and Religion agree together Those which be of God cannot but witnesse against those that be of the world because their deeds are evill Those which are of the world are heady high minded proud boasters wise in their owne conceit and therfore scorne to be rebuked and hate to be reformed These being together in the world as Wheate and Tares in one Field and as Sheep and goates in one Flocke the true end of the administration of the word of God had beene to call and separate the one from the other the precious from the vile beleevers from insidells But notwithstanding this generation thought it to be wisedome to take a contrary course namely to bring all people of all sorts to be one Church and likewise unto vniformitie in Religion And because it could not be effected by the power of the Word of God that sword of the spirit they procured the helpe of worldly governours to bring it to passe by their power and cōmaund By which devise and policie these many waters that is the Nations and people have beene gathered into one Church and eccleasticall body politike here represented by the Sea and have been brought to use all one order of worship service and government But this conformitie not being procured thorough love but constrayned by feare was but an humane devise and worldly policie and no divine Institution And therfore could not be upholden maynteyned and continued by the word of God and the administration of a serviceable Ministerie but by the over-ruling power of a Lordly Prelacie whereupon it was thought meet that Synods or Counsells of
ugly in forme and horrible and monstrous in nature Who can indure to heare that Power that Throne and that authority which they beleeue to be of God to be said and affirmed to bee of the Dragon that old Serpent the Diuell and Satan Who will beleeue that a righteous God would giue way to his enemies the workers of iniquitie so farre to prevaile and so long time as for many hundred yeeres together to delude the Nations to bring them into bondage and to keepe them in slaverie And that a few poore despised people of no reckoning in the world here one and there another should see more and be wiser then all the great Clarks wise Counsellours mightie Princes and all the Nobles of the earth Who I say hath an eare to heare these things and not bee moved to fret in himselfe and to gnash his teeth at the hearing of them Yet notwithstanding all this and more let him that hath an eare heare for times and seasons will change a time will come as the verse following doth declare when these great workers of iniquity shall bee subdued and troden under foote He that leadeth into captivitiae shall goe into captivitie he that killeth with Vers 10. the sword must bee killed with the sword here is the patience and faith of the Saints Here is shewed the iustice of God who will recompence unto the wicked according to the workes of their hands as they haue measured unto others it shall bee measured unto them againe they shall reape the fruite of their unrighteousnesse to the full Therefore the Saints and servants of God should here learne with patience to beare the Crosse because the Lord will take their parts and avenge their bloud upon their enemies and those which with patience rest upon the Lord are here recorded for Saints Here is the patience and faith of the Saints As if it were said those which patiently indure affliction for the truth and commit their cause unto God resting faithfully upon him are thereby tryed and made manifest to the world to bee the Saints and Servants of God that in sure hope of a time of refreshing chuse to endure captivitie and the sword rather then they will to haue peace with the world together with the world worship the Beast Thus much concerning the first part of this Chapter and of that power and promotion which the Prelates and Clergie crope up unto before the exaltation and supremacie of the Pope The mysterie of whose iniquitie is next to be considered To God be glorie for ever Amen The second part of the 13. Chapter of the Revelation beginning at the 11. Verse VERSE 11. And I beheld another Beast comming up out of the earth and he had two hornes like a Lambe and he spake as a Dragon AS in the former part of this Chapter the Prelacie and Clergie in generall who under the title of the Catholike Church Militant exalted themselues to work iniquitie and bring the Nations into captivitie and bondage to their traditions were resembled by a seven-headed Beast so here after much striving amongst themselues who should be the chiefe and greatest not being content with their former riches honour and earthly promotion but aspiring higher at last the Prelate of Rome in particular attained to this title and dignitie to be Christs Vicar Peters successor and universall Bishop and under that Title pretended a fulnesse of power and supremacie over all persons and causes and therefore is here resembled and fore-shewed by a Beast c. First whereas it is said of this Beast that it came up out of the earth thereby is signified that the high degree and dignitie whereunto the Prelates of Rome haue aspired and exalted themselues is not from heaven it is of the earth earthly it is a plant which our heavenly Father hath not planted and therefore shall in the end be rooted out Concerning the comming up of this Beast it is to be minded that the Ministers of the word of God of which ranke of men this Beast boasteth himselfe to be the cheife if they were in their right kinde should be as the Starres of heaven lights and guides unto others But at the opening of the * Rev. 6. 13. sixth Seale Iohn saw the Starres fall from heaven to the earth as a fig tree casteth her greene figges when she is shaken of a mighty winde whereby was signified that the Ministers of the word of God would in time degenerate and goe out of kinde they would contrary to the Apostles rule set their affections on earthly things they would for filthy lucre make Marchandize of the people and Word of God they would gather riches and grow wealthy by the wages of unrighteousnesse and so become the great men of the earth all which is fulfilled and come to passe as all may see that are not wilfully blinde Among the rest of the fallen Starres to one was given the key of the bottomlesse pit Rev. 9. 1. whereby was signified that power and preheminence should be given to one of the fallen Starres aboue the rest which thing was effected and came to passe when Phocas being Emperour he promoted Boniface then Prelate of Rome to be universall Bishop and to haue power and jurisdiction over all other Bishops Which thing vvhen Phocas had done this Abaddon King of Locusts with the rest of the brood of the bottomelesse pit that succeeded him who had the opening and shutting of Purgatory at their pleasure so prevailed in time that they exalted themselues aboue Emperours and Kings which thing they could never haue done had they not first besotted the Nations in blinde devotion to impoverish themselues to feed these Locusts under the title of the Church and in hope of meriting thereby and to be released from their sinnes and from the supposed paines of Purgatory For had the Pope that Prelate of Rome been as destitute of worldly wealth and as well furnished with spirituall grace as Peter and Iohn were when they went up into the Temple to pray Acts 3. 1. 6. and healed the lame man he had never set his foote upon the Emperours neck For as much therefore as the Romish Prelate from a meane and lowly estate and degree in the world hath crept up and been exalted aboue Kings and Emperours and seeing worldly wealth and riches haue been the meanes whereby he hath got the preheminence very significantly was this upstart resembled and prefigured by a Beast comming up out of the earth Againe it is said of this Beast that it had two Hornes like the Lamb By Hornes in the Scripture is usually signified power and authority and by the Lamb is meant Christ Iesus who had all power in heaven and earth given to him Math. 28. 18. So that hereby was shewed that the Prelate of Rome would challenge and usurpe great power and authority which he perswadeth the world doth belong unto him as being Christs Vicar and under this pretence usurpeth
are * Psal 82. 6. called Gods and their seats as the Throne of God in heauen should bee so corrupted by the Pope as that they should beleeue the Saints and Servants of God which refused to obey the Pope and his Lawes to be therefore Hereticks Schismaticks refractarie rebellious and disobedient persons and therefore should condemne them to be burnt to death This they haue done thinking they did God therein good service and that it was the iust iudgement of God upon them Thus he made fire to come downe from heaven For true it is that the iudgements rightly pronounced by the lawfull Magistrates are the iudgements of God and their punishments Gods punishments and therefore it is that Maigistrates are called Gods but seeing Magistrates haue beene thus corrupted by the Pope and made to pronounce unrighteous and unjust judgements wee are to esteeme them as the judgements of the Dragon and yet neverthelesse their authority and power lawfull and ordained of God Thus the Beast deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by meanes of those Miracles falsly so called which he had power to doe in the sight of the Beast as is shewed in the verse following And he deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the meanes of those miracles Vers 14. which he had power to doe in the sight of the Beast Those which the Beast deceiveth are sayd to dwell on the earth that is haue their affections fet upon earthly things and not upon heavenly so that they will not for loue of the truth forsake their earthly possessions and pleasures these are they which are deceived by these lying wonders of this Beast but those that are strangers and pilgrimes in this world whose affections are set upon heavenly things and not upon earthly these are not deceived nor deluded by him these making tryall of him by Gods word haue found him to be a lyer and a deceiver and beleeue him not but taking their liues in their hands witnes against him to the death that his power and working is of Satan and that his wonders are lyes And whereas it is sayd that he had power to doe these miracles in the sight of the Beast therby is confirmed made manifest that which before is shewed page 23 that this sonne of perdition the chief darling of his holy catholick Mother is present with her and in her bosome and for her sake and in her behalf exerciseth his power shee retayning still her former authoritie without any diminishing thereof as is evident unto all that are acquainted with the acts of that Church Thus much for the second parte of this chapter The 3. part of the 13. Chapter of the Revelation Wherin is foreshewed a third Beast which was set up by the commaundement of this second Beast the Pope who sayd to them that dwelt on the earth that they should make an Image to the Beast which had the wound with a sword and did live HEre we may see that the Pope by his commanding power was the cause of setting up this Image and for the better and more cleare understanding what this Image is Let us consider a little the patterne whose image and likenes it beareth namely the first Beast The first Beast as hath beene shewed was the representative body of the Catholicke Church Militant consisting of the selected Prelacy and Preisthood of sundry Nations gathered together into one Councell or Synode with authoritie to make lawes and canons for the universall Church to be observed uniformely of all Nations under pretence of the insufficiency of the Scripture for the government of the Church and the worship of God In like manner the Pope in his wisedome seeing it necessary for the good government maintenance and upholding of his kingdome and the rooting out of Heretickes and seditious persons as they call them which daylie increased in every Countrie did ordeyne and command | Vide conciliū Lateran secundum Can. 6. that in every Province there should yerely be held and kept a Provinciall counsel or Synode consisting of the Prelats and divers other selected persons which should look to those matters to which Synode he also gave power to make lawes and ordinances to which the people should be conformable and obedient This is the Image which he caused the dwellers on the earth to make of the Beast which had the wound with a sword and did live Further it is sayd Vers 15. And power was given him to giue life unto the Image of the Beast that the Image of the Beast should both speake and Ver. 15. cause that as many as would not worship the Image of the Beast should bee killed In this verse wee may obserue first that a gift was given to the Pope to bestow upon this Image secondly what this gift was viz. to giue life or breath to the Image thirdly the end and effects of the gift which was that the Beast should speake and cause that as many as would not worship the Beast should be killed As there was given by the Dragon to the first Beast great power and authoritie and also a mouth to speake blasphemies and to make warre with the Saints in like manner by the same Dragon was this gift given to the Pope to giue life or breathe to this Image By life is here meant authoritie which is the life of a Synode without which it is of no force and so this Image should haue been no more then a very image or picture and set up to no purpose but the Pope having received it gaue authority to the Image that he should speake that is make and set forth Canons and Lawes for to speake is so understood as for example A King is said to speake to his subiects when he setteth forth his Lawes and Proclamations so this Beast having made Canons and Decrees speaketh to her vassals and subjects by them Moreover the Image caused that as many as would not worship him should be killed Here the pride and cruelty of this Image is set forth to be answerable to the first Beast and therefore rightly is he called her Image for as the first Beast made wart with the Saints and overcame them and all that dwelled on the earth worshiped him c. so whosoever would not worship this Image that is heare his voyce and keep his commandements there was no way for him but death All the worship that the Lord requireth of his servants is * That they feare him walke in all his wayes loue him and serue him with all their Deu. 10. 12. 13. hearts and with all their soules to keep the commandements of the Lord and his ordinances And this is indeed the true worship of God In like manner this Image wil be worshiped his lawes must be observed his canons obeyed without examining and trying of them be they never so unholy and unjust They that do not observe and obey them be they never so upright and holy men